Students Cope With Wintertime Depression

This is the second part in a two-part feature concerning student depression in the winter months.

So, you failed Statistics, didn't get an interview with Morgan Stanley and your boyfriend took a permanent vacation. Complaints by students "feeling depressed" often elicit a range of peer responses ranging from stigma to careless dismissal, but few can say they consider these comments symptoms of a serious medical condition requiring treatment.

"Depression stands in the middle ground between something specific and scientific and something that...anyone has to be wary about, a synonym for being stressed out," Nicholas K. Davis '98, Room 13 co-director says.

Davis notes that Room 13, which offers 24-hour counseling to students, is an easy starting place for those who suspect they may have a problem with depression and don't know where to turn first.

"People like the fact that they can come for one night [to] talk about their problems without it being a big deal," says Davis.

Less severe depression is more prevalant among the 18-22 age bracket, but Davis says depression among college students is often a root malady connected to other mental illnesses such as anorexia nervosa or bi-polar manic depression.

Even those students in need of treatment for depression alone may suffer from a more severe type of illness requiring prescription treatment. Although most students won't need prescription drugs to cure their blues, those who suspect they have a problem should find out just how serious it is.

"Depression is common to human beings...it is very normal, ordinary experience, says Dr. Charles Ducey, director of the Bureau of Study Council.

Ducey's own theory concerning depression is that it stems from a considerable loss--you haven't made it off the bench this season, your girlfriend's been spending way too much time at her Italian TF's office hours," or your bank account has a negative balance that rivals the national deficit.

According to Ducey, depression occurs when people internalize a specific loss, blaming themselves for problems that are beyond their personal control. For example, he says a depressed individual might feel that they are "a worthless person...because they broke up with their boyfriend or didn't go out this weekend."

Although some students, such as Tim D. Hirzel '00 see depression as problem that doesn't really happen here, the situation may be more complex on campus that it appears.

"I don't think people here take the time of day to be depressed, "Hirzel says.

Regardless of when and to what degree, most students, unlike Hirzel, agree that depression among the student body is more widespread that it appears. For many people, admitting that they feel depressed is often difficult as a result of the negative stigma, the sense of shame linked to mental illness in general.

Treating Students, Not Just Depression

At the first meeting of the informal support group she recently founded for students with mental illnesses on campus, Alison D. Kent '99-00 said she was struck by the fact that students of every race, from every concentration, class, and house were openly discussing their mental illnesses for the first time.

As of last year, the Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy Group--also founded by Kent--has helped to bring mental illnesses such as depression from the realm of conversational taboo into students' consciousness. The group, supported by UHS Health Education Office, brings speakers on issues of Mental Health, sponsors Colloquia and helps with Depression screening programs.

Although the students discuss formal treatment methods at meetings, they also try to probe the causes of depression--where it originates and how to alleviate the stressful sources.

According to Kent, last year a student suffering from depression who sought counseling at the Bureau was assured of confidentiality, but the Bureau later contacted her Senior Tutors. The Tutor then allegedly referred to the student's proclivity toward depression on a medical school recommendation.

"People are scared of publicizing their mental health issues, especially when it comes to jobs," says Kent, "every medical school to which the student applied brought up the issue of depression during his interviews...as a result, he was denied admission."

It is due to incidents such as these that Kent and other students in the support group have tried to focus their energies on how to find the right kind of treatment on campus. However, Kent said she and other students, both those who have suffered from depression and those who have helped friends through such experiences, are still unsure whether Harvard's pressurized environment itself may be at the heart of students' depression.

"College is a depressing time of life, not very conducive to mental health," says a junior in Leverett House who has helped many of her friends through periods of depression. Kent agrees that Harvard students lack free time and strong sense of community support, citing specific Harvard causes of depression such as lack of sleep and constant feelings of inadequacy when measuringoneself to more impressive and successfulroommates and friends.

"If you have any chemical predisposition to bedepressed, Harvard will trigger depression becausethis is a crazy place," she says.

Other students are more lighthearted aboutdepression.

"Everyone I know just wants a boyfriend," jokeda sophomore in Lowell who preferred to remainanonymous. However, Ducey confirms this popularintuition.

"A boyfriend [or] girlfriend is a great cure...because intimacy is the best protection againstbeing depressed."

Despite the negligible dating scene at Harvardand the frenetic pace of student life here, manyintrinsic Harvardian traits help offsetdepression. Dr. Randolphe Catlin, chief of mentalhealth services at UHS, says that Harvardstudents' "productivity" coupled with thesuccess-drive that brought them to the Ivy leaguebetter equip them to deal with life'sdisappointments.

Whether or not Harvard students'competitiveness, high stress level and innatedefense-mechanisms increase or decreasesusceptibility depression, most students agreethat available mental health resources areinadequate.

Many depressed students are ashamed or nervousabout burdening friends with their problems andhesitant to seek help at UHS or the Bureau ofStudy Council.

Yet, as Ducey says, the best cure fordepression is talking to someone, seeking intimacyin order to help ease the feelings of loneliness.

Ducey encourages students concerned that theymay be depressed to drop by the Bureau which hesays is accessible and nurturing and offers a fullrange of mental health groups and workshops eachsemester in addition to providing individualcounseling.

"Through therapy and counseling... Depressionis a very treatable, straightforward condition,"he says.

Students can reach the free depressionscreening hot line at 1-800-729-8269. Those whoseresponses to the ten-question diagnostic indicatethey are depressed will be connected by theoperator to UHS personnel for a consultation.

"If you have any chemical predisposition to bedepressed, Harvard will trigger depression becausethis is a crazy place," she says.

Other students are more lighthearted aboutdepression.

"Everyone I know just wants a boyfriend," jokeda sophomore in Lowell who preferred to remainanonymous. However, Ducey confirms this popularintuition.

"A boyfriend [or] girlfriend is a great cure...because intimacy is the best protection againstbeing depressed."

Despite the negligible dating scene at Harvardand the frenetic pace of student life here, manyintrinsic Harvardian traits help offsetdepression. Dr. Randolphe Catlin, chief of mentalhealth services at UHS, says that Harvardstudents' "productivity" coupled with thesuccess-drive that brought them to the Ivy leaguebetter equip them to deal with life'sdisappointments.

Whether or not Harvard students'competitiveness, high stress level and innatedefense-mechanisms increase or decreasesusceptibility depression, most students agreethat available mental health resources areinadequate.

Many depressed students are ashamed or nervousabout burdening friends with their problems andhesitant to seek help at UHS or the Bureau ofStudy Council.

Yet, as Ducey says, the best cure fordepression is talking to someone, seeking intimacyin order to help ease the feelings of loneliness.

Ducey encourages students concerned that theymay be depressed to drop by the Bureau which hesays is accessible and nurturing and offers a fullrange of mental health groups and workshops eachsemester in addition to providing individualcounseling.

"Through therapy and counseling... Depressionis a very treatable, straightforward condition,"he says.

Students can reach the free depressionscreening hot line at 1-800-729-8269. Those whoseresponses to the ten-question diagnostic indicatethey are depressed will be connected by theoperator to UHS personnel for a consultation.